Mexico raids drug cartel training camp

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican police and military personnel raided a training camp that was apparently used by a drug cartel for recruits in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz.

The Veracruz state government said late Monday that three drug gang suspects were killed in the weekend raid and 33 suspected gang members were arrested.

Bullet-proof vests and training equipment were found at the scene.

The government said several police officers from the nearby town of Acultzingo are suspected of having protected the gang, and have not reported for duty.

The government did not identify the cartel, but local media reported the camp was used by the hyper-violent Zetas cartel, which was founded by army deserters and favors military-style gear and tactics.

The Zetas have erected military-style training camps in the past. In 2011 in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon, Mexican marines captured 19 suspected Zetas at a ranch that was being used as a training camp in the town of Colombia.